Boro's UEFA Cup form has been excellent, but this has not always been matched by their league displays.

Steve McClaren's men haven't conceded a goal in Europe so far, while they have not recorded a clean sheet in the league since August.

At the same time Boro have not been beaten in six league and cup games at the Riverside since the horrendous home defeat by Sunderland at the end of September.

But they have been held to home draws by bottom four sides Portsmouth and West Brom, and clearly need to concentrate fully against Litex if they are to avoid further slip-ups and achieve their ambition of topping group D.

Know the Litex form>

Litex go into their final Group D game on a high following a 1-0 victory against title chasing Levski in the Bulgarian Premier League on Friday.

In a tight game, Milivoje Novakovic scored the only goal of the game with just seven minutes remaining.

The Slovenian striker rose highest to meet Robert Popov's cross and give coach Ljupko Petrovic victory against his former club on neutral territory in Sevlievo, with Litex serving a one-match home ban.

However, the real hero of the game was Litex's giant goalkeeper Vitomir Vutov, who made terrific, point-blank saves to deny Daniel Bormirov, Hristo Yovov and Emil Angelov in the second half.

German referee Franz Xaver Wack gave Levski hope when he dismissed Litex's Alejandro Cichero after 88 minutes for an elbow on Milan Koprivarov, but Litex comfortably held on.

The Litex coach paid tribute to his goalkeeper, saying: "Levski played better than us but we had a fantastic goalkeeper."

This was the team's fifth win in a row in the league and has taken them up to fourth place going into the Bulgarian League's winter break - but they still trail unbeaten leaders CSKA Sofia by 11 points.

Beat the bookies>

Boro will be looking to win their final group game to ensure a better draw in the next round, predicts Ladbrokes spokesman Melanie Lamming.

"Middlesbrough are strong favourites to win tonight's final Group D fixture at 4/9 on.

"Of course, Steve McClaren's side have yet to concede a goal in this year's competition.

"The scorelines of 1-0 and 2-0 are 5/1 and 3-0 is 8/1. A half-time/full-time bet could be tempting, with Boro at 7/2 to be level after 45 minutes and winners after 90.

"Boro are expected to ring the changes, which brings some of the fringe players into first goalscorer contention. Massimo Maccarone is 5/1."

Lamming's bet: A 3-1 Boro win at 9/1.

Tallentire's tip: Boro win 2-1 at 7/1.

What we say about them>

Bernie Slaven: "The Bulgarians can still win the group if they beat Boro, and Alkmaar lose or draw against Grasshoppers tonight.

"So they will come here to make a game of it.

"It doesn't change anything. They're still an average side, nowhere near the quality of Alkmaar and one which we should be beating quite comfortably.

"It won't help that the Riverside will probably be more than half empty.

"But it would be good to think we could beat Litex and win the group, because it should give us an easier task in the next round."

Player spotlight Boro>

Steve McClaren is expected to make a few changes tonight in order to keep the team as fresh as possible for Sunday's Premiership showdown against Spurs.

He will also still be without Gaizka Mendieta, who is having treatment for a tear in his groin, and hamstring victim Stuart Parnaby.

Szilard Nemeth, who might have earned a game either in midfield or up front, is also battling to shake off a hamstring injury.

Austrian defender Emanuel Pogatetz, who has a groin injury, is unlikely to be fit to play in the starting line-up.

Some of the younger players will be champing at the bit, and McClaren has revealed already that midfield duo Adam Johnson and Jason Kennedy will play some part.

Player spotlight Litex>

Versatile Litex defender Zhivko Zhelev has returned from a back injury and played a part in a crucial win against Levski last week.

Zhelev will stay in the squad tonight and could well be promoted to the starting line-up.

Experienced defender Rossen Kirilov has been battling to shake off an ankle injury and is also expected to feature.

However, the chances of him starting the match are rated as slim.

Litex in Europe>

Litex have come this far with impressive away performances in the UEFA Cup.

In the second qualifying round, the Bulgarians lost 2-1 at Croatian club NK Rijeka, but Marc Caillet's penalty was enough to take them through on the away-goal rule having won 1-0 in the first leg.

Then, after a last-minute goal had earned a 2-2 home draw with KRC Genk in the first round, a goal from Brazilian midfielder Sandrinho took Litex through 3-2 on aggregate.

In the group stage, the Bulgarian side won 2-1 at home to Grasshoppers, and then continued their fine away form with a crucial 2-0 win at Dnipro which took them to the verge of the last 32.

Even the 2-0 loss at AZ Alkmaar at the end of November could not stop Litex from going through as Grasshoppers failed to beat Dnipro on the same night, and the bottom two clubs both went out of the competition as a result.